Duke basketball among five still alive for five-star package deal

By surviving the first cut from prep sensation Kennedy Chandler, the Duke basketball program also likely stayed in the hunt for his ideal college running mate.

Back in September, the Duke basketball recruiting machine landed among the top nine for O'Dea (Wash.) five-star power forward Paolo Banchero, who ranks No. 3 on the 247Sports 2021 Composite.

The other eight remaining finalists for the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Banchero — who hails from Seattle and whose versatility, confidence, and frame all bring to mind former Duke basketball one-and-done Jabari Parker — are Baylor, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Kentucky, Memphis, Tennessee, UNC, and Washington.

Now, five of those finalists for Banchero — Duke,…